U.S. patent application number 17/235726 was filed with the patent office on 2021-10-28 for outdoor air hood assembly with an inlet hood.
The applicant listed for this patent is Johnson Controls Technology Company. Invention is credited to Prashanti S. Dhawan, Nitin A. Kurane, Gurpreet Singh, Anand Talikot.
Application Number | 20210332991 17/235726 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000005569876 |
Filed Date | 2021-10-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20210332991 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Singh; Gurpreet ; et
al. |
October 28, 2021 |
OUTDOOR AIR HOOD ASSEMBLY WITH AN INLET HOOD
Abstract
A hood assembly for a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning
(HVAC) unit includes a top panel comprising a first panel portion
and a second panel portion adjustably coupled to one another,
wherein the top panel is configured to rotatably couple to a
housing of the HVAC unit. The hood assembly further includes a
filter frame rotatably coupled to the top panel, wherein the filter
frame is configured to support at least one filter. The hood
assembly is adjustable between a collapsed configuration and a
deployed configuration, the first panel portion and the second
panel portion are configured to translate relative to one another
during transition of the hood assembly between the collapsed
configuration and the deployed configuration, and the top panel is
configured to contain the filter frame within the housing in the
collapsed configuration.
Inventors: |
Singh; Gurpreet; (Pune,
IN) ; Dhawan; Prashanti S.; (Pune, IN) ;
Kurane; Nitin A.; (Pune, IN) ; Talikot; Anand;
(Belgaum, IN) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Johnson Controls Technology Company |
Auburn Hills |
MI |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
1000005569876 |
Appl. No.: |
17/235726 |
Filed: |
April 20, 2021 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F24F 1/48 20130101; F24F
1/58 20130101 |
International
Class: |
F24F 1/58 20060101
F24F001/58; F24F 1/48 20060101 F24F001/48 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 20, 2020 |
IN |
202011016873 |
Claims
1. A hood assembly for a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning
(HVAC) unit, comprising: a top panel comprising a first panel
portion and a second panel portion adjustably coupled to one
another, wherein the top panel is configured to rotatably couple to
a housing of the HVAC unit; and a filter frame rotatably coupled to
the top panel, wherein the filter frame is configured to support at
least one filter, wherein the hood assembly is adjustable between a
collapsed configuration and a deployed configuration, the first
panel portion and the second panel portion are configured to
translate relative to one another during transition of the hood
assembly between the collapsed configuration and the deployed
configuration, and the top panel is configured to contain the
filter frame within the housing in the collapsed configuration.
2. The hood assembly of claim 1, wherein the top panel is
substantially flush with the housing in the collapsed
configuration.
3. The hood assembly of claim 1, wherein the filter frame comprises
a first sub-frame configured to support a first filter and a second
sub-frame configured to support a second filter, and wherein the
first sub-frame and the second sub-frame are rotatably coupled to
one another.
4. The hood assembly of claim 3, wherein the first sub-frame is
rotatably coupled to the top panel, and the second sub-frame is
configured to rotatably couple to the housing.
5. The hood assembly of claim 3, wherein the first sub-frame and
the second sub-frame are each formed from a respective plurality of
C-channels.
6. The hood assembly of claim 1, wherein the hood assembly is
configured to transition between the collapsed configuration and
the deployed configuration with the at least one filter installed
with the filter frame.
7. The hood assembly of claim 1, wherein the second panel portion
is configured to slide relative to the first panel portion during
transition of the hood assembly between the collapsed configuration
and the deployed configuration.
8. The hood assembly of claim 1, comprising a side panel configured
to couple to the top panel in the deployed configuration to retain
the hood assembly in the deployed configuration.
9. The hood assembly of claim 8, wherein the side panel is
configured to be decoupled from the top panel in the collapsed
configuration.
10. A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) unit,
comprising: a housing; an intake hood assembly coupled to the
housing and configured to transition between a collapsed
configuration and a deployed configuration; a top cover of the
intake hood rotatably coupled to the housing and comprising a first
panel and a second panel, wherein the second panel is configured to
translate relative to the first panel during transition of the
intake hood assembly between the collapsed configuration and the
deployed configuration; and a filter frame rotatably coupled to the
top cover and configured to support at least one filter, wherein
the top cover and the filter frame are configured to rotate
relative to one another and relative to the housing during
transition of the intake hood assembly between the collapsed
configuration and the deployed configuration.
11. The HVAC unit of claim 10, wherein the filter frame comprises a
first sub-frame configured to support a first plurality of filters
and a second sub-frame configured to support a second plurality of
filters, and wherein the first sub-frame and the second sub-frame
are rotatably coupled to one another.
12. The HVAC unit of claim 11, wherein the first sub-frame and the
second sub-frame overlap with one another and are disposed within
an interior of the housing in the collapsed configuration.
13. The HVAC unit of claim 12, wherein the top cover overlaps with
the first sub-frame and the second sub-frame and is external to the
first sub-frame and the second frame, relative to the interior of
the housing, in the collapsed configuration.
14. The HVAC unit of claim 11, wherein the first sub-frame and the
second sub-frame are positioned adjacent one another to receive an
air flow in the deployed configuration.
15. The HVAC unit of claim 10, wherein the top cover extends from
the housing at an oblique angle in the deployed configuration, and
the top cover extends substantially flush with the housing in the
collapsed configuration.
16. The HVAC unit of claim 10, comprising a first side panel and a
second side panel of the intake hood assembly, wherein the first
side panel and the second side panel are configured to couple to
the top cover on opposite sides of the top cover to retain the
intake hood assembly in the deployed configuration, and wherein the
first side panel and the second side panel are configured to be
decoupled from the top cover in the collapsed configuration.
17. An intake hood assembly for a heating, ventilation, and air
conditioning (HVAC) unit, comprising: a top panel comprising a
first panel portion and a second panel portion adjustably coupled
to one another, wherein the top panel is configured to couple to a
housing of the HVAC unit; and a filter frame coupled to the top
panel, wherein the filter frame comprises a first sub-frame
configured to support a first filter and a second sub-frame
configured to support a second filter, wherein the intake hood
assembly is adjustable between a collapsed configuration and a
deployed configuration, the first panel portion and the second
panel portion are configured to translate relative to one another
during transition of the intake hood assembly between the collapsed
configuration and the deployed configuration, and the first
sub-frame and the second sub-frame are configured to rotate
relative to one another during transition of the intake hood
assembly between the collapsed configuration and the deployed
configuration.
18. The intake hood assembly of claim 17, wherein the top panel is
configured to rotate relative to the housing during transition of
the intake hood assembly between the collapsed configuration and
the deployed configuration.
19. The intake hood assembly of claim 17, wherein the intake hood
assembly transitions between the collapsed configuration and the
deployed configuration with the first filter installed with the
first sub-frame and with the second filter installed with the
second sub-frame.
20. The intake hood assembly of claim 17, wherein the first
sub-frame is configured to support a first plurality of filters
including the first filter, and the second sub-frame is configured
to support a second plurality of filters including the second
filter.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority from and the benefit of
India Provisional Application Serial No. 202011016873, entitled "AN
OUTDOOR AIR HOOD ASSEMBLY WITH AN INLET HOOD," filed Apr. 20, 2020,
which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety for all
purposes.
BACKGROUND
[0002] This section is intended to introduce the reader to various
aspects of art that may be related to various aspects of the
present disclosure and are described below. This discussion is
believed to be helpful in providing the reader with background
information to facilitate a better understanding of the various
aspects of the present disclosure. Accordingly, it should be noted
that these statements are to be read in this light, and not as
admissions of prior art.
[0003] Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems
are utilized to control environmental properties, such as
temperature and humidity, for occupants of residential, commercial,
and industrial environments. The HVAC systems may control the
environmental properties through control of an air flow delivered
to the environment. In some cases, the HVAC systems include an
intake hood that is configured to block water, dust, debris, and
other contaminants from entering the HVAC system. For instance, an
outdoor HVAC unit may draw air into the unit from the intake hood,
and the air may ultimately flow across a heat exchanger to exchange
thermal energy with a working fluid (e.g., refrigerant) flowing
through the heat exchanger. Existing intake hoods are generally
shipped separately from a housing of the HVAC unit and are
therefore assembled upon delivery, which increases transportation,
delivery, and installation costs and may be time-consuming.
Accordingly, it is now recognized that improved assembly and
transportation management for HVAC units having intake hoods is
desired.
SUMMARY
[0004] A summary of certain embodiments disclosed herein is set
forth below. It should be noted that these aspects are presented
merely to provide the reader with a brief summary of these certain
embodiments and that these aspects are not intended to limit the
scope of this disclosure. Indeed, this disclosure may encompass a
variety of aspects that may not be set forth below.
[0005] In an embodiment, a hood assembly for a heating,
ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) unit comprises a top panel
comprising a first panel portion and a second panel portion
adjustably coupled to one another, wherein the top panel is
configured to rotatably couple to a housing of the HVAC unit. The
HVAC unit further comprises a filter frame rotatably coupled to the
top panel, wherein the filter frame is configured to support at
least one filter. The hood assembly is adjustable between a
collapsed configuration and a deployed configuration, the first
panel portion and the second panel portion are configured to
translate relative to one another during transition of the hood
assembly between the collapsed configuration and the deployed
configuration, and the top panel is configured to contain the
filter frame within the housing in the collapsed configuration.
[0006] In another embodiment, a heating, ventilation, and air
conditioning (HVAC) unit comprises a housing and an intake hood
assembly coupled to the housing and configured to transition
between a collapsed configuration and a deployed configuration. The
HVAC unit further comprises a top cover of the intake hood
rotatably coupled to the housing and comprising a first panel and a
second panel, wherein the second panel is configured to translate
relative to the first panel during transition of the intake hood
assembly between the collapsed configuration and the deployed
configuration. The HVAC unit further comprises a filter frame
rotatably coupled to the top cover and configured to support at
least one filter, wherein the top cover and the filter frame are
configured to rotate relative to one another and relative to the
housing during transition of the intake hood assembly between the
collapsed configuration and the deployed configuration.
[0007] In another embodiment, an intake hood assembly for a
heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) unit includes a
top panel comprising a first panel portion and a second panel
portion adjustably coupled to one another, wherein the top panel is
configured to couple to a housing of the HVAC unit. The intake hood
assembly further includes a filter frame coupled to the top panel,
wherein the filter frame comprises a first sub-frame configured to
support a first filter and a second sub-frame configured to support
a second filter. The intake hood assembly is adjustable between a
collapsed configuration and a deployed configuration, the first
panel portion and the second panel portion are configured to
translate relative to one another during transition of the intake
hood assembly between the collapsed configuration and the deployed
configuration, and the first sub-frame and the second sub-frame are
configured to rotate relative to one another during transition of
the intake hood assembly between the collapsed configuration and
the deployed configuration.
DRAWINGS
[0008] Various aspects of this disclosure may be better understood
upon reading the following detailed description and upon reference
to the drawings in which:
[0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a building having an
embodiment of a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC)
system for environmental management that may employ one or more
HVAC units, in accordance with an aspect of the present
disclosure;
[0010] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a packaged
HVAC unit that may be used in the HVAC system of FIG. 1, in
accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure;
[0011] FIG. 3 is a cutaway perspective view of an embodiment of a
residential, split HVAC system, in accordance with an aspect of the
present disclosure;
[0012] FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of an embodiment of a
vapor compression system that can be used in any of the systems of
FIGS. 1-3, in accordance with an aspect of the present
disclosure;
[0013] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a portion
of an HVAC unit having an air hood assembly in a deployed
configuration, in accordance with an aspect of the present
disclosure;
[0014] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an embodiment of an air hood
assembly in a deployed configuration, in accordance with an aspect
of the present disclosure;
[0015] FIG. 7A is a cross-sectional side view of an embodiment of a
top panel retainer of an air hood assembly in a deployed
configuration, in accordance with an aspect of the present
disclosure;
[0016] FIG. 7B is a cross-sectional side view of an embodiment of a
top panel retainer of an air hood assembly in a collapsed
configuration, in accordance with an aspect of the present
disclosure;
[0017] FIG. 8A is a schematic side view illustrating transition of
an embodiment of an air hood assembly between a deployed
configuration and a collapsed configuration, in accordance with an
aspect of the present disclosure;
[0018] FIG. 8B a perspective view of an embodiment of an air hood
assembly, illustrating transition between a deployed configuration
and a collapsed configuration, in accordance with an aspect of the
present disclosure;
[0019] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an embodiment of an air hood
assembly, in accordance with an aspect of the present
disclosure;
[0020] FIG. 10A is an expanded perspective view of an embodiment of
an air hood assembly, illustrating panel portions of the air hood
assembly, in accordance with an aspect of the present
disclosure;
[0021] FIG. 10B is an expanded perspective view of an embodiment of
an air hood assembly, illustrating coupled panel portions of the
air hood assembly, in accordance with an aspect of the present
disclosure;
[0022] FIG. 11A is a perspective view of an embodiment of a
connection between filter frames of an air hood assembly, in
accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure;
[0023] FIG. 11B is a perspective view of an embodiment of a
connection between a filter frame of an air hood assembly and a
housing frame, in accordance with an aspect of the present
disclosure;
[0024] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of an embodiment of an air
hood assembly in a collapsed configuration, in accordance with an
aspect of the present disclosure; and
[0025] FIG. 13 is a schematic of an embodiment of a filter assembly
of an air hood assembly, in accordance with an aspect of the
present disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0026] One or more specific embodiments will be described below. In
an effort to provide a concise description of these embodiments,
not all features of an actual implementation are described in the
specification. It should be noted that in the development of any
such actual implementation, as in any engineering or design
project, numerous implementation-specific decisions must be made to
achieve the developers' specific goals, such as compliance with
system-related and business-related constraints, which may vary
from one implementation to another. Moreover, it should be noted
that such a development effort might be complex and time consuming,
but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking of design,
fabrication, and manufacture for those of ordinary skill having the
benefit of this disclosure.
[0027] When introducing elements of various embodiments of the
present disclosure, the articles "a," "an," and "the" are intended
to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms
"comprising," "including," and "having" are intended to be
inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than
the listed elements. Additionally, it should be noted that
references to "one embodiment" or "an embodiment" of the present
disclosure are not intended to be interpreted as excluding the
existence of additional embodiments that also incorporate the
recited features.
[0028] The present disclosure is directed to an improved hood
assembly (e.g., air hood assembly, air intake hood assembly)
configured to be disposed over an air intake (e.g., air inlet) of a
heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) unit. As
discussed above, existing air hoods may be removed and/or otherwise
disassembled to an HVAC unit when the HVAC unit is to be
transported from one location to another. As such, the HVAC unit
and the air hood are shipped to a new location separately from one
another, which may increase transportation costs. The air hood must
also be assembled, or otherwise attached, to the HVAC unit when the
separate components reach the final destination, which may be
time-consuming and costly.
[0029] Accordingly, embodiments of the present disclosure are
directed to a collapsible air hood assembly that is configured to
transition between a collapsed configuration and a deployed
configuration. In some embodiments, the air hood assembly may
include a top panel having a first panel and a second panel and
having a pair of side panels removably coupled to the top panel.
When the air hood assembly is in the deployed configuration, the
air hood assembly is configured to block water and other elements,
such as dust, debris, and/or dirt particles present in an
environment surrounding the HVAC unit, from entering the HVAC unit
via an air intake, while also enabling air to flow from the
environment surrounding the HVAC unit into the HVAC unit via the
air intake. When the air hood assembly is in the collapsed
configuration, the pair of side panels may be removed such that the
top panel of the air hood assembly may transition and rest
generally flush with a side of the HVAC unit. As such, the air hood
assembly may be transported with the HVAC unit in an assembled or
installed configuration without substantially increasing the size
(e.g., footprint) of the HVAC unit, thereby reducing the time and
costs associated with transportation, delivery, and assembly of the
HVAC unit.
[0030] Turning now to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a heating,
ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system for building
environmental management that may employ one or more HVAC units. As
used herein, an HVAC system includes any number of components
configured to enable regulation of parameters related to climate
characteristics, such as temperature, humidity, air flow, pressure,
air quality, and so forth. For example, an "HVAC system" as used
herein is defined as conventionally understood and as further
described herein. Components or parts of an "HVAC system" may
include, but are not limited to, all, some of, or individual parts
such as a heat exchanger, a heater, an air flow control device,
such as a fan, a sensor configured to detect a climate
characteristic or operating parameter, a filter, a control device
configured to regulate operation of an HVAC system component, a
component configured to enable regulation of climate
characteristics, or a combination thereof. An "HVAC system" is a
system configured to provide such functions as heating, cooling,
ventilation, dehumidification, pressurization, refrigeration,
filtration, or any combination thereof. The embodiments described
herein may be utilized in a variety of applications to control
climate characteristics, such as residential, commercial,
industrial, transportation, or other applications where climate
control is desired.
[0031] In the illustrated embodiment, a building 10 is air
conditioned by a system that includes an HVAC unit 12. The building
10 may be a commercial structure or a residential structure. As
shown, the HVAC unit 12 is disposed on the roof of the building 10;
however, the HVAC unit 12 may be located in other equipment rooms
or areas adjacent the building 10. The HVAC unit 12 may be a single
package unit containing other equipment, such as a blower,
integrated air handler, and/or auxiliary heating unit. In other
embodiments, the HVAC unit 12 may be part of a split HVAC system,
such as the system shown in FIG. 3, which includes an outdoor HVAC
unit 58 and an indoor HVAC unit 56.
[0032] The HVAC unit 12 is an air cooled device that implements a
refrigeration cycle to provide conditioned air to the building 10.
Specifically, the HVAC unit 12 may include one or more heat
exchangers across which an air flow is passed to condition the air
flow before the air flow is supplied to the building. In the
illustrated embodiment, the HVAC unit 12 is a rooftop unit (RTU)
that conditions a supply air stream, such as environmental air
and/or a return air flow from the building 10. After the HVAC unit
12 conditions the air, the air is supplied to the building 10 via
ductwork 14 extending throughout the building 10 from the HVAC unit
12. For example, the ductwork 14 may extend to various individual
floors or one or more zones (101, 102, 103) of the building 10 and
each zone may further comprise one or more outdoor air hoods
equipped with filters. In certain embodiments, the HVAC unit 12 may
be a heat pump that provides both heating and cooling to the
building with one refrigeration circuit configured to operate in
different modes. In other embodiments, the HVAC unit 12 may include
one or more refrigeration circuits for cooling an air stream and a
furnace for heating the air stream.
[0033] A control device 16, one type of which may be a thermostat,
may be used to designate the temperature of the conditioned air.
The control device 16 also may be used to control the flow of air
through the ductwork 14. For example, the control device 16 may be
used to regulate operation of one or more components of the HVAC
unit 12 or other components, such as dampers and fans, within the
building 10 that may control flow of air through and/or from the
ductwork 14. In some embodiments, other devices may be included in
the system, such as pressure and/or temperature transducers or
switches that sense the temperatures and pressures of the supply
air, return air, and so forth. Moreover, the control device 16 may
include computer systems that are integrated with or separate from
other building control or monitoring systems, and even systems that
are remote from the building 10.
[0034] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the HVAC
unit 12. In the illustrated embodiment, the HVAC unit 12 is a
single package unit that may include one or more independent
refrigeration circuits and components that are tested, charged,
wired, piped, and ready for installation. The HVAC unit 12 may
provide a variety of heating and/or cooling functions, such as
cooling only, heating only, cooling with electric heat, cooling
with dehumidification, cooling with gas heat, or cooling with a
heat pump. As described above, the HVAC unit 12 may directly cool
and/or heat an air stream provided to the building 10 to condition
a space in the building 10.
[0035] As shown in the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 2, a cabinet
24 encloses the HVAC unit 12 and provides structural support and
protection to the internal components from environmental and other
contaminants. In some embodiments, the cabinet 24 may be
constructed of galvanized steel and insulated with aluminum foil
faced insulation. Rails 26 may be joined to the bottom perimeter of
the cabinet 24 and provide a foundation for the HVAC unit 12. In
certain embodiments, the rails 26 may provide access for a forklift
and/or overhead rigging to facilitate installation and/or removal
of the HVAC unit 12. In some embodiments, the rails 26 may fit onto
"curbs" on the roof to enable the HVAC unit 12 to provide air to
the ductwork 14 from the bottom of the HVAC unit 12 while blocking
elements such as rain from leaking into the building 10.
[0036] The HVAC unit 12 includes heat exchangers 28 and 30 in fluid
communication with one or more refrigeration circuits. Tubes within
the heat exchangers 28 and 30 may circulate refrigerant, such as
R-410A, through the heat exchangers 28 and 30. The tubes may be of
various types, such as multichannel tubes, conventional copper or
aluminum tubing, and so forth. Together, the heat exchangers 28 and
30 may implement a thermal cycle in which the refrigerant undergoes
phase changes and/or temperature changes as it flows through the
heat exchangers 28 and 30 to produce heated and/or cooled air. For
example, the heat exchanger 28 may function as a condenser where
heat is released from the refrigerant to ambient air, and the heat
exchanger 30 may function as an evaporator where the refrigerant
absorbs heat to cool an air stream. In other embodiments, the HVAC
unit 12 may operate in a heat pump mode where the roles of the heat
exchangers 28 and 30 may be reversed. That is, the heat exchanger
28 may function as an evaporator and the heat exchanger 30 may
function as a condenser. In further embodiments, the HVAC unit 12
may include a furnace for heating the air stream that is supplied
to the building 10. While the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 2
shows the HVAC unit 12 having two of the heat exchangers 28 and 30,
in other embodiments, the HVAC unit 12 may include one heat
exchanger or more than two heat exchangers.
[0037] The heat exchanger 30 is located within a compartment 31
that separates the heat exchanger 30 from the heat exchanger 28.
Fans 32 draw air from the environment through the heat exchanger
28. Air may be heated and/or cooled as the air flows through the
heat exchanger 28 before being released back to the environment
surrounding the HVAC unit 12. A blower assembly 34, powered by a
motor 36, draws air through the heat exchanger 30 to heat or cool
the air. The heated or cooled air may be directed to the building
10 by the ductwork 14, which may be connected to the HVAC unit 12.
Before flowing through the heat exchanger 30, the conditioned air
flows through one or more filters 38 that may remove particulates
and contaminants from the air. In certain embodiments, the filters
38 may be disposed on the air intake side of the heat exchanger 30
to prevent contaminants from contacting the heat exchanger 30.
[0038] The HVAC unit 12 also may include other equipment for
implementing the thermal cycle. Compressors 42 increase the
pressure and temperature of the refrigerant before the refrigerant
enters the heat exchanger 28. The compressors 42 may be any
suitable type of compressors, such as scroll compressors, rotary
compressors, screw compressors, or reciprocating compressors. In
some embodiments, the compressors 42 may include a pair of hermetic
direct drive compressors arranged in a dual stage configuration 44.
However, in other embodiments, any number of the compressors 42 may
be provided to achieve various stages of heating and/or cooling.
Additional equipment and devices may be included in the HVAC unit
12, such as a solid-core filter drier, a drain pan, a disconnect
switch, an economizer, pressure switches, phase monitors, and
humidity sensors, among other things.
[0039] The HVAC unit 12 may receive power through a terminal block
46. For example, a high voltage power source may be connected to
the terminal block 46 to power the equipment. The operation of the
HVAC unit 12 may be governed or regulated by a control board 48.
The control board 48 may include control circuitry connected to a
thermostat, sensors, and alarms. One or more of these components
may be referred to herein separately or collectively as the control
device 16. The control circuitry may be configured to control
operation of the equipment, provide alarms, and monitor safety
switches. Wiring 49 may connect the control board 48 and the
terminal block 46 to the equipment of the HVAC unit 12.
[0040] FIG. 3 illustrates a residential heating and cooling system
50, also in accordance with present techniques. The residential
heating and cooling system 50 may provide heated and cooled air to
a residential structure, as well as provide outside air for
ventilation and provide improved indoor air quality (IAQ) through
devices such as ultraviolet lights and air filters. In the
illustrated embodiment, the residential heating and cooling system
50 is a split HVAC system. In general, a residence 52 conditioned
by a split HVAC system may include refrigerant conduits 54 that
operatively couple the indoor unit 56 to the outdoor unit 58. The
indoor unit 56 may be positioned in a utility room, an attic, a
basement, and so forth. The outdoor unit 58 is typically situated
adjacent to a side of residence 52 and is covered by a shroud to
protect the system components and to prevent leaves and other
debris or contaminants from entering the unit. The refrigerant
conduits 54 transfer refrigerant between the indoor unit 56 and the
outdoor unit 58, typically transferring primarily liquid
refrigerant in one direction and primarily vaporized refrigerant in
an opposite direction.
[0041] When the system shown in FIG. 3 is operating as an air
conditioner, a heat exchanger 60 in the outdoor unit 58 serves as a
condenser for re-condensing vaporized refrigerant flowing from the
indoor unit 56 to the outdoor unit 58 via one of the refrigerant
conduits 54. In these applications, a heat exchanger 62 of the
indoor unit functions as an evaporator. Specifically, the heat
exchanger 62 receives liquid refrigerant, which may be expanded by
an expansion device, and evaporates the refrigerant before
returning it to the outdoor unit 58.
[0042] The outdoor unit 58 draws environmental air through the heat
exchanger 60 using a fan 64 and expels the air above the outdoor
unit 58. When operating as an air conditioner, the air is heated by
the heat exchanger 60 within the outdoor unit 58 and exits the unit
at a temperature higher than it entered. The indoor unit 56
includes a blower or fan 66 that directs air through or across the
indoor heat exchanger 62, where the air is cooled when the system
is operating in air conditioning mode. Thereafter, the air is
passed through ductwork 68 that directs the air to the residence
52. The overall system operates to maintain a desired temperature
as set by a system controller. When the temperature sensed inside
the residence 52 is higher than the set point on the thermostat, or
the set point plus a small amount, the residential heating and
cooling system 50 may become operative to refrigerate additional
air for circulation through the residence 52. When the temperature
reaches the set point, or the set point minus a small amount, the
residential heating and cooling system 50 may stop the
refrigeration cycle temporarily.
[0043] The residential heating and cooling system 50 may also
operate as a heat pump. When operating as a heat pump, the roles of
heat exchangers 60 and 62 are reversed. That is, the heat exchanger
60 of the outdoor unit 58 will serve as an evaporator to evaporate
refrigerant and thereby cool air entering the outdoor unit 58 as
the air passes over the outdoor heat exchanger 60. The indoor heat
exchanger 62 will receive a stream of air blown over it and will
heat the air by condensing the refrigerant.
[0044] In some embodiments, the indoor unit 56 may include a
furnace system 70. For example, the indoor unit 56 may include the
furnace system 70 when the residential heating and cooling system
50 is not configured to operate as a heat pump. The furnace system
70 may include a burner assembly and heat exchanger, among other
components, inside the indoor unit 56. Fuel is provided to the
burner assembly of the furnace system 70 where it is mixed with air
and combusted to form combustion products. The combustion products
may pass through tubes or piping in a heat exchanger, separate from
heat exchanger 62, such that air directed by the blower or fan 66
passes over the tubes or pipes and extracts heat from the
combustion products. The heated air may then be routed from the
furnace system 70 to the ductwork 68 for heating the residence
52.
[0045] FIG. 4 is an embodiment of a vapor compression system 72
that can be used in any of the systems described above. The vapor
compression system 72 may circulate a refrigerant through a circuit
starting with a compressor 74. The circuit may also include a
condenser 76, an expansion valve(s) or device(s) 78, and an
evaporator 80. The vapor compression system 72 may further include
a control panel 82 that has an analog to digital (A/D) converter
84, a microprocessor 86, a non-volatile memory 88, and/or an
interface board 90. The control panel 82 and its components may
function to regulate operation of the vapor compression system 72
based on feedback from an operator, from sensors of the vapor
compression system 72 that detect operating conditions, and so
forth.
[0046] In some embodiments, the vapor compression system 72 may use
one or more of a variable speed drive (VSDs) 92, a motor 94, the
compressor 74, the condenser 76, the expansion valve or device 78,
and/or the evaporator 80. The motor 94 may drive the compressor 74
and may be powered by the variable speed drive (VSD) 92. The VSD 92
receives alternating current (AC) power having a particular fixed
line voltage and fixed line frequency from an AC power source, and
provides power having a variable voltage and frequency to the motor
94. In other embodiments, the motor 94 may be powered directly from
an AC or direct current (DC) power source. The motor 94 may include
any type of electric motor that can be powered by a VSD or directly
from an AC or DC power source, such as a switched reluctance motor,
an induction motor, an electronically commutated permanent magnet
motor, or another suitable motor.
[0047] The compressor 74 compresses a refrigerant vapor and
delivers the vapor to the condenser 76 through a discharge passage.
In some embodiments, the compressor 74 may be a centrifugal
compressor. The refrigerant vapor delivered by the compressor 74 to
the condenser 76 may transfer heat to a fluid passing across the
condenser 76, such as ambient or environmental air 96. The
refrigerant vapor may condense to a refrigerant liquid in the
condenser 76 as a result of thermal heat transfer with the
environmental air 96. The liquid refrigerant from the condenser 76
may flow through the expansion device 78 to the evaporator 80.
[0048] The liquid refrigerant delivered to the evaporator 80 may
absorb heat from another air stream, such as a supply air stream 98
provided to the building 10 or the residence 52. For example, the
supply air stream 98 may include ambient or environmental air,
return air from a building, or a combination of the two. The liquid
refrigerant in the evaporator 80 may undergo a phase change from
the liquid refrigerant to a refrigerant vapor. In this manner, the
evaporator 80 may reduce the temperature of the supply air stream
98 via thermal heat transfer with the refrigerant. Thereafter, the
vapor refrigerant exits the evaporator 80 and returns to the
compressor 74 by a suction line to complete the cycle.
[0049] In some embodiments, the vapor compression system 72 may
further include a reheat coil in addition to the evaporator 80. For
example, the reheat coil may be positioned downstream of the
evaporator relative to the supply air stream 98 and may reheat the
supply air stream 98 when the supply air stream 98 is overcooled to
remove humidity from the supply air stream 98 before the supply air
stream 98 is directed to the building 10 or the residence 52.
[0050] It should be appreciated that any of the features described
herein may be incorporated with the HVAC unit 12, the residential
heating and cooling system 50, or other HVAC systems. Additionally,
while the features disclosed herein are described in the context of
embodiments that directly heat and cool a supply air stream
provided to a building or other load, embodiments of the present
disclosure may be applicable to other HVAC systems as well. For
example, the features described herein may be applied to mechanical
cooling systems, free cooling systems, chiller systems, or other
heat pump or refrigeration applications.
[0051] As set forth above, embodiments of the present disclosure
are directed to a collapsible air hood assembly that is configured
to couple to an HVAC unit and transition from a collapsed
configuration to a deployed configuration and vice versa. The air
hood assembly may be configured to couple to the HVAC unit 12 of
FIG. 1, the outdoor unit 58 illustrated in FIG. 3, and/or any other
suitable HVAC unit. Additionally, the air hood assembly may
transition from the deployed configuration to the collapsed
configuration when transportation of the HVAC unit is desired.
Therefore, the air hood assembly may remain coupled to the HVAC
unit during transportation, thereby reducing or eliminating
separate shipping costs for each of the air hood assembly and the
HVAC unit. Additionally, adjusting the air hood assembly between
the collapsed configuration and the deployed configuration may be
less time-consuming when compared to a traditional installation of
the air hood assembly. As such, an assembly time of the HVAC unit
may also be reduced.
[0052] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a side 102 (e.g., lateral
side or surface) of an HVAC unit 100, illustrating an embodiment of
an air hood assembly 200 (e.g., hood assembly, intake hood
assembly) having an inlet hood 202 in a deployed configuration. As
shown in the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 5, the HVAC unit 100
may include a housing 104 configured to support and secure the air
hood assembly 200 on the side 102 of the HVAC unit 100. The housing
104 may also support and/or couple to other various components of
the HVAC unit 100. For example, the housing 104 may include a first
sub-frame 106 (e.g., frame, frame member, support structure) to
which the inlet hood 202 may be secured, and a second sub-frame 108
(e.g., frame, frame member, support structure) to which an exhaust
hood 204 of the HVAC unit 100 may be secured. The exhaust hood 204
may be configured to protect or cover a louver 205, which may be
configured to regulate a flow of exhaust air discharged from the
HVAC unit 100. It should be noted that a similar louver may be
present within the inlet hood 202 and may be configured to regulate
a flow of intake air received by the HVAC unit 100.
[0053] The air hood assembly 200 may include a top panel 206 (e.g.,
top panel assembly, top cover) and a filter assembly 208, each
rotatably coupled to the first sub-frame 106. The top panel 206
includes a first panel portion 210 and a second panel portion 212
that may be adjustably coupled to one another. For example, during
a transition of the air hood assembly 200 from a deployed
configuration to a collapsed configuration, the second panel
portion 212 may slide or translate relative to the first panel
portion 210 to enable the first panel portion 210 to substantially
cover and contain the filter assembly 208 within and/or against the
side 102 of the housing 104 of the HVAC unit 100, as described in
greater detail below. The filter assembly 208 may include a frame
213 (e.g., support structure) configured to support filters of the
air hood assembly 200. For example, the frame 213 may include a
first filter frame 214 (e.g., sub-frame) rotatably coupled to the
top panel 206 and a second filter frame 216 (e.g., sub-frame)
rotatably coupled to the first sub-frame 106 of the housing 104.
The first filter frame 214 and the second filter frame 216 may each
be configured to support one or more filters 215, 217. The filters
215, 217 may be configured to block particulates and/or
contaminants from entering an interior of the HVAC unit 100 from
the environment surrounding the HVAC unit 100, such as during
operation of the HVAC unit 100. The filter assembly 208 may also
include a mesh 218 to configured to secure and hold the one or more
filters 215, 217 in the first filter frame 214 and the second
filter frame 216.
[0054] The first filter frame 214 and the second filter frame 216
may also be rotatably coupled to one another by one or more hinge
joints 219 (e.g., hinges, pivot connections, etc.). The one or more
hinge joints 219 may be configured to couple the first and second
filter frames 214, 216 together to facilitate the transition of the
air hood assembly 200 from a deployed configuration to a collapsed
configuration, as described in greater detail with reference to
FIGS. 8 and 11A. As discussed in detail herein, the filter assembly
208 may be positioned over an opening (e.g., air inlet) of the HVAC
unit 100. Accordingly, air may be drawn through the filters 215,
217 and into an interior of the HVAC unit 100 via a fan or blower
of the HVAC unit 100. The air may be directed through the HVAC unit
100 and may pass over one or more heat exchangers within the HVAC
unit 100 to condition the air.
[0055] In the deployed configuration, the first filter frame 214
and the second filter frame 216 may be extended and/or expanded out
towards the environment and away from the HVAC unit 100 such that
the first filter frame 214 and the second filter frame 216 are
aligned with one another (e.g., side-by-side, adjacent one another)
in an extended position. In the deployed configuration, a gap 222
may be formed between the first filter frame 214 and the second
filter frame 216. The gap 222 may be occluded by a flexible
material (e.g., a filter and/or cloth strip) configured to span the
gap 222 and between the first filter frame 214 and the second
filter frame 216. The gap 222 may be formed in the deployed
configuration as a result of the spatial relationship of the first
filter frame 214 relative to the second filter frame 216 (e.g., via
the hinge joints 219), and the spatial relationship may facilitate
transition of the air hood assembly 200 from the deployed
configuration to the collapsed configuration and vice versa, as
described in greater detail below. In the deployed configuration,
the air hood assembly 200 may further incorporate a pair of side
panels 224 (e.g., on opposite sides of the inlet hood 202)
configured to couple to, secure, and/or support the top panel 206
and the filter assembly 208 in the extended position while in the
air hood assembly 200 is in the deployed configuration. As shown in
the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 5, the side panels 224 may
extend laterally outward from the side 102 of the HVAC unit 100.
For example, the side panels 224 may each include triangular
geometry or profile having a first edge 225 configured to couple to
and/or abut the housing 104 of the HVAC unit 100. Additionally, a
second edge 226 of each side panel 224 may be configured to couple
to the top panel 206. Further still, the side panels 224 may each
include a third edge 227 configured to couple to and/or abut the
filter assembly 208. The third edges 227 of the side panels 224 may
also be configured to secure or lock the filter assembly 208 in the
extended position while the air hood assembly 200 is in the
deployed configuration. As discussed further below, the side panels
224 may be removed from the air hood assembly 200 to facilitate
transition of the air hood assembly 200 from the deployed
configuration to the collapsed configuration.
[0056] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the air
hood assembly 200 in the deployed configuration. The inlet hood 202
is configured to block water and/or other contaminants from
entering the interior of the HVAC unit 100 and/or otherwise through
the filters 215, 217. As discussed above, the top panel 206 may
include the first panel portion 210 and the second panel portion
212 and may be disposed at an oblique angle 150 relative to the
side 102 of the HVAC unit 100 such that the top panel 206 may
provide protection for components of the air hood assembly 200
positioned below the top panel 206 (e.g., the filter assembly 208)
and/or within the housing of the HVAC system 100 (e.g., a louver).
The first panel portion 210 may have a top edge 231 (e.g., a base
edge, first edge), a bottom edge 232 (e.g., a distal edge, second
edge) opposite the top edge 231 and having a lip 300, and a pair of
lateral edges 233, 234. The second panel portion 212 may also have
a top edge 235 (e.g., overlapping edge, first edge), a bottom edge
236 (e.g., a distal edge, second edge) opposite the top edge 235
and having a lip 302, and a pair of lateral edges 237, 238. As
illustrated, the top edge 235 of the second panel portion 212 may
be positioned underneath or behind the first panel portion 210 to
enable the second panel portion 212 to slide relative to the first
panel portion 210. In the collapsed configuration of the air hood
assembly 200, the second panel portion 212 may be retracted behind
and substantially covered (e.g., via overlap) by the first panel
portion 210. The first panel portion 210 may be configured to
maintain its shape or geometry while transitioning from a deployed
configuration to a collapsed configuration. For example, regardless
of configuration (e.g., deployed, transitioning, collapsed) of the
air hood assembly 200, the first panel portion 210 may remain fixed
relative to the second panel portion 212, and the second panel
portion 212 may slide or translate towards or away from the first
panel portion 210. That is, the lip 302 of the second panel portion
212 may move towards the lip 300 of the first panel portion 210
when the air hood assembly 200 transitions from the deployed
configuration to the collapsed configuration. For example, the
second panel portion 212 may translate relative to the first panel
portion 210 until the bottom edge 236 and the lip 302 of the second
panel portion 212 contact and/or are adjacent to the bottom edge
232 and the lip 300 of the first panel portion 210. In the
collapsed configuration, the first panel portion 212 may
substantially cover and/or overlap with the second panel portion
210, as illustrated in FIG. 12. When the air hood assembly 200
transitions from the collapsed configuration to the deployed
configuration, the bottom edge 236 and the lip 302 of the second
panel portion 212 may extend away from the bottom edge 232 and the
lip 300 of the first panel portion 210. In this manner, the top
panel 206 enables the filter assembly 208 to extend out into the
deployed configuration (e.g., with filter frames 214, 216
side-by-side). It should be noted that, as used herein, the term
"top" is not limited to orientations or spatial relationships
whereby an element (e.g., the top panel 206) is located above
(e.g., vertically above) other elements (e.g., relative to
gravity). That is, in some configurations (e.g., the collapsed
configuration), the top panel 206 may be the most outward element
relative to the housing 104 such that the top panel 206
substantially covers and contains other components of the air hood
assembly 200 within the housing 104, as described in greater detail
below.
[0057] As illustrated, the first edges 225 of the side panels 224
may be coupled to the housing 104 via one or more fasteners 304.
The fasteners 304 may be pins or screws that are readily removed to
facilitate the transition of the air hood assembly 200 from the
deployed configuration to the collapsed configuration. The second
edge 226 of the side panel 224 may be coupled to the top panel 206
via one or more fasteners 305. The fasteners 305 may be similar to
fasteners 304 to enable ready removal of the side panels 224 to
enable transition of the air hood assembly 200 to the collapsed
configuration. The third edge 227 of the side panel 224 may be
positioned above the filter assembly 208 (e.g., relative to
gravity) in the deployed configuration in order to bias (e.g., via
a force 310 in an outward and/or downward direction) and/or retain
(e.g., secure) the filter assembly 208 in the extended
positioned.
[0058] As described above, the filter assembly 208 may include the
first filter frame 214, the second filter frame 216, filters 215,
217, and the mesh 218. The first filter frame 214 may have a top
side 240 (e.g., distal side, first side), a bottom side 241
(adjoining side, second side), and a pair of lateral sides 242,
243. The second filter frame 216 may also have a top side 244
(e.g., adjoining side, first side), a bottom side 245 (e.g.,
mounting side, second side), and a pair of lateral sides 246, 247.
When the filter assembly 208 is in the extended position, the
bottom side 241 of the first filter frame 214 and the top side 244
of the second filter frame 216 may be separated by the gap 222. The
bottom side 241 of the first filter frame 214 and the top side 244
of the second filter frame 216 are also rotatably coupled to one
another such that the first filter frame 214 and the second filter
frame 216 may angularly rotate towards and/or away from one another
during transition of the air hood assembly 200 between the deployed
configuration and the collapsed configuration via the hinge joints
219. The spatial relationship of the first filter frame 214 and the
second filter frame 216 that results in the gap 222 in the deployed
configuration may also provide additional space for the first
filter frame 214 and the second filter frame 216 to rotate relative
to one another. The gap 222 may be enclosed by a flexible material,
such as a filter cloth strip, configured to fit within (e.g., fill,
span) the gap 222, thereby blocking air flow between the first
filter frame 214 and the second filter frame 216 and into the inlet
hood 202.
[0059] The top side 240 of the first filter frame 214 may be
rotatably coupled to the bottom edge 236 of the second panel
portion 212. Further, each of the sides 240, 241, 242, 243, 244,
245, 246, and 247 of the first filter frame 214 and the second
filter frame 216 may include or be formed from C-channels
configured to facilitate installation of the filters 215, 217
therein. It should be noted that each of the filters 215, 217 may
each include multiple individual filters. When the filter 215 is
installed within the first filter frame 214, a gap (e.g., space,
void) may extend between an edge of the filter 215 and the top side
240 of the first filter frame 214. This gap (e.g., within the
C-channel forming the top side 240) may provide room for the filter
215 to be adjusted or manipulated during replacement of one or more
of the filters 215 (e.g., without disassembling the filter assembly
208), as described in greater detail with reference to FIG. 13. It
should be noted that each of the filter frame sides 240, 241, 242,
243, 244, 245, 246, and 247, which may be formed or defined by one
or more C-channels, may provide a gap similar to that described
above between the side of the corresponding filter frame 214, 216
and a respective side of the corresponding filter 215, 217 to
facilitate installation and/or removal of the filters 215, 217.
[0060] As discussed above, various components of the air hood
assembly 200 may be coupled to the first sub-frame 106. The first
sub-frame 106 may have a top portion 111 (e.g., first portion), a
bottom portion 112 (e.g., second portion) opposite the top portion
111 relative to an air inlet protected by the air hood assembly
200, a first side portion 113, and a second side portion 114
opposite the first side portion 113 relative to the air inlet
protected by the air hood assembly 200. The top portion 111 may
also include a top panel retainer 115 (e.g., clasp, clamp,
bracket), which is described further below. Each portion 111, 112,
113, and 114 of the first sub-frame 106 may be configured to couple
to and secure components of the air hood assembly 200 to the
housing 104 of the HVAC unit 100. For example, the bottom side 245
of the second filter frame 216 may be rotatably coupled to the
bottom portion 112 of the first sub-frame 106 via hinge joints 220,
and the top edge 231 of the first panel portion 210 may be
rotatably coupled to the first portion 111 of the first sub-frame
106 via the top panel retainer 115. Further, while in the deployed
configuration, the first edges 225 of the side panels 224 may be
coupled to the first side portion 113 and the second side portion
114, respectively, via the fasteners 304.
[0061] FIG. 7A is a side perspective view of an embodiment of the
top panel retainer 115, which may be configured to facilitate the
securement of the top edge 231 of the first panel portion 210 to
the housing 104 of the HVAC system 100 in the deployed
configuration. For example, the top panel retainer 115 may be
secured to the top portion 111 of the first sub frame 106 via one
or more fasteners 306. The one or more fasteners 306 may extend
through the top portion 111 of the first sub frame 106 and into the
top panel retainer 115, thereby securing the top panel retainer 115
to the housing 104. The top edge 231 of the first panel portion 210
may have a lip 310 that extends in a generally vertical direction
when the air hood assembly 200 is in the deployed configuration,
and the top panel retainer 115 may also have a lip 116 that extends
in a generally horizontal direction.
[0062] As illustrated and discussed above, fasteners 304 may extend
through the first edge 225 of the side panel 224 and into the
second side portion 114 of the first sub-frame 106 to couple and
secure the side panel 224 to the housing 104. Further, fasteners
305 may extend through the first panel portion 210 and into the
second edge 226 of the side panel 224, thereby coupling and
securing the first panel portion 210 to the side panel 224. When
the fasteners 304, 305 are removed along with the side panels 224
(e.g., to transition the air hood assembly 200 from the deployed
configuration to the collapsed configuration), the top panel 206
may rotate or pivot towards the housing 104 in a generally downward
and/or inward direction 400 relative to the housing 104, and the
lip 310 may rotate or pivot towards the lip 116 of the top panel
retainer 115 in a generally downward and/or inward direction 350
relative to the lip 116. In the collapsed configuration, the top
panel 206 extends along and generally flush with the housing 104,
as discussed above. Additionally, in this position of the top panel
206, the lip 116 may extend along and rest against (e.g., above
and/or on top of, relative to gravity) the lip 116, thereby
securing the top panel 206 within the top panel retainer 115 in the
collapsed configuration, as discussed in greater detail below with
reference to FIG. 7B.
[0063] FIG. 7B is an exploded view of an embodiment of the top
panel retainer 115 with the top panel 206 of the air hood assembly
200 in the collapsed configuration. When in the collapsed
configuration, the lip 310 of the first panel portion 210 may be
positioned above the lip 116 of the top panel retainer 115 relative
to gravity. As illustrated, the lip 310 of the first panel portion
210 may rest against the lip 116 of the top panel retainer 115 in
the collapsed configuration, such that the lip 116 of the top panel
retainer 115 supports the top panel 206 via engagement with the lip
310 of the first panel portion 210. In this way, the top panel
retainer 115 restricts or blocks the top panel 206 from moving
downward relative to the top panel retainer 115. For example, the
lip 116 of the top panel retainer 115 may be configured to support
a weight of the top panel 206 while in the collapsed configuration.
Further, the lip 116 may be configured to restrict the top panel
206 from rotating further inward, relative to the housing 104, upon
reaching the collapsed configuration. Furthermore, as shown, the
lip 310 and the lip 116 are dimensioned such that the lips 310, 116
substantially overlap with and contact one another in the collapsed
configuration of the air hood assembly 200. For example, a full
length or a substantially full length of the lip 310 rests on the
lip 116, and the lip 116 extends toward the housing 104 beneath
(e.g., relative to gravity) the full length or substantially full
length of the lip 310. Thus, the top panel retainer 115 may block
or mitigate inadvertent dislodging of the top panel 206 from the
top panel retainer 115.
[0064] Turning now to FIG. 8A, a schematic view illustrating
transition of an embodiment of the air hood assembly 200 between a
deployed configuration and a collapsed configuration, is shown.
During transition, the side panels 224 may be removed to enable
rotation and/or pivoting of the top panel 206 relative to the
housing 104, as enabled by the lip 116 of the top panel retainer
115 and the lip 310 of the first panel portion 210. As discussed
above, the top panel 206 may include the first panel portion 210
and the second panel portion 212. During transition from the
deployed configuration to the collapsed configuration, the top
panel 206 may rotate in the downward and/or inward direction 400
relative to the housing 104 such that the filter assembly 208 may
collapse and be protected and contained within the housing 104.
Further, during transition, the second panel portion 212 may move
in a generally inward direction 402 relative to the first panel
portion 210. Because the second panel portion 212 is coupled to the
first filter frame 214, when the second panel portion 212 slides
inward relative to the first panel portion 210, the first filter
frame 214 also moves inward towards the housing 104 of the HVAC
unit 100 such that when the air hood assembly 200 is fully
collapsed, the filter assembly 208 is covered and contained within
the housing 104 by the top panel 206. During transition from the
collapsed configuration to the deployed configuration, the top
panel 206 may rotate in an outward and/or upward direction 500
relative to the housing 104. Further, the second panel portion 212
may move in a generally outward direction 502 relative to the first
panel portion 210. In turn, the first filter frame 214 may move
away from the housing 104 to provide additional space for the
filter assembly 208 to move (e.g., rotate and/or pivot) into the
extended position. To facilitate transition, the first filter frame
214 and the second filter frame 216 may be coupled together via the
one or more hinge joints 219. The one or more hinge joints 219 may
be configured to enable rotational movement between the first
filter frame 214 and the second filter frame 216. Further, one or
more additional hinge joints 220 may couple the second filter frame
216 to the first sub-frame 106. The one or more additional hinge
joints 220 may enable rotational movement between the bottom side
245 of the second filter frame 216 and the bottom portion 112 of
the first sub-frame 106. Such features are described in greater
detail with reference to FIG. 11A and FIG. 11B.
[0065] As discussed above, the first filter frame 214 and the
second filter frame 216 are rotatably coupled to one another by the
one or more hinge joints 219. During transition from the deployed
configuration to the collapsed configuration, the first filter
frame 214 and the second filter frame 216 may rotate towards each
other (e.g., about the one or more hinge joints 219) until the air
hood assembly 200 is in the collapsed configuration. When the air
hood assembly 200 is fully collapsed, the first filter frame 214
and the second filter frame 216 overlap with one another (e.g., in
a side-by-side or adjacent arrangement) and may be substantially
contained against the housing 104 (e.g., covered) by the top panel
206. For example, the bottom side 241 of the first filter frame 214
and the top side 244 of the second filter frame 216 may be
rotatably coupled to one another via the hinge joints 219 such that
the bottom side 241 of the first filter frame 214 and the top side
244 of the second filter frame 216 may move in a generally inward
and/or upward direction 404 relative to the housing 104 when the
air hood assembly 200 transitions from the deployed configuration
to the collapsed configuration. As the bottom side 241 of the first
filter frame 214 and the top side 244 of the second filter frame
216 pivot or rotate and move in the inward and/or upward direction
404, an inward surface 270 of the first filter frame 214 may pivot
an inward and/or upward direction 274 relative to the top panel
206. Further, an inward surface 280 of the second filter frame 216
may pivot in an inward and/or upward direction 284 relative to the
first sub-frame 106 of the housing 104. Thus, during transition
from the deployed configuration to the collapsed configuration, the
first filter frame 214 and the second filter frame 216 may rotate
or pivot towards one another until they are substantially flush
against one another and arranged to overlap one another. For
example, in the collapsed configuration and relative to the housing
104, the first panel portion 210 is external to the second panel
portion 212, the second panel portion 212 is external to the first
filter frame 214, and the first filter frame 214 is external to the
second filter frame 216. Thus, the first panel portion 210
substantially covers and contains the second panel portion 210 and
the first and second filter frames 214, 216 against the housing 104
in the collapsed configuration. It should be noted that, as the
second panel portion 212 moves in the inward direction 402 relative
to the first panel portion 210, the top side 240 of the first
filter frame 214 may move in a similar direction due to the
coupling between the second panel portion 212 and the first filter
frame 214.
[0066] During transition from the collapsed configuration to the
deployed configuration, the bottom side 241 of the first filter
frame 214 and the top side 244 of the second filter frame 216 may
move in a generally outward and/or downward direction 504 relative
to the housing 104 to enable transition of the filter assembly 208
into the extended position associated with the deployed
configuration of the the air hood assembly 200. As the bottom side
241 of the first filter frame 214 and the top side 244 of the
second filter frame 216 move in the outward and/or downward
direction 504 relative to the housing 104, an outward surface 272
of the first filter frame 214 may rotate in an outward and/or
downward direction 276 relative to the top panel 206 and an outward
surface 282 of the second filter frame 216 may rotate in an outward
and/or downward direction 286 relative to the first sub frame 106
of the housing 104. Thus, during transition from the collapsed
configuration to the deployed configuration, the first filter frame
214 and the second filter frame 216 may rotate away from one
another such that, when extended, the first filter frame 214 and
the second filter frame 216 are aligned with one another (e.g.,
end-to-end) in the extended position. It should be noted that, as
the second panel portion 212 moves outward relative to the first
panel portion 210, the top side 240 of the first filter frame 214
may move in a similar direction due to the coupling between the
second panel portion 212 and the first filter frame 214.
[0067] FIG. 8B a perspective view of an embodiment of the air hood
assembly 200 transitioning from a deployed configuration to a
collapsed configuration. As described above, the filter assembly
208 may be configured to fold or collapse towards the housing 104
when transitioning from the deployed configuration to the collapsed
configuration. In the illustrated embodiment, as the filter
assembly 208 collapses towards the first sub-frame 106 of the
housing 104, the first filter frame 214 may be configured to sit
generally flush against the top panel 206 such that the top panel
206 may cover (e.g., be disposed external to, relative to the
housing 104) a portion of the first filter frame 214 and the filter
assembly 208. Further, because the bottom edge 236 of the second
panel portion 212 is rotatably coupled to the top side 240 of the
first filter frame 214, as the second panel portion 212 slides or
translates relative to the first panel portion 210, the first
filter frame 214 may also slide or translate relative to the first
panel portion 210 towards the housing 104. Thus, when in the
collapsed configuration, the first panel portion 210 substantially
covers and contains the filter assembly 208 within and/or against
the housing 104.
[0068] FIG. 9 is a top-perspective view of an embodiment of the air
hood assembly 200 in a deployed configuration. In the deployed
configuration, the side panels 224 may be coupled to the first
sub-frame 106 via fasteners 304 and to the first panel portion 210
via fasteners 305. Once the fasteners 304, 305 and side panels 224
are removed, the top panel 206 may rotate towards the first
sub-frame 106 to the collapsed configuration. As discussed above,
the top edge 235 of the second panel portion 212 may be positioned
underneath the bottom edge 232 of the first panel portion 210, and
the second panel portion 212 may be configured to slide or
translate relative to the first panel portion 210 to enable the air
hood assembly 200 to transition to the collapsed configuration. To
facilitate this movement, the second panel portion 212 may have a
slot 320 formed in each of the lateral edges 237, 238 of the second
panel portion 212. The slot 320 may be configured to guide or
direct the second panel portion 212 towards the first panel portion
210 via one or more bolts, as described in greater detail
below.
[0069] For example, FIG. 10A shows an exploded view of an
embodiment of the slot 320 configured to facilitate movement of the
second panel portion 212 relative to the first panel portion 210.
The slot 320 may span across a length 322 of the lateral edge 237
of the second panel portion 212. As discussed above, the top edge
235 of the second panel portion 212 may be positioned underneath
the bottom edge 232 of the first panel portion 210, thereby
enabling the second panel portion 212 to translate in either the
inward direction 402 or outward direction 502 relative to the first
panel portion 210, such as along a first axis 500. To facilitate
the sliding of the second panel portion 212 relative to the first
panel portion 210, a first bolt 330 (e.g., pin, fastener, etc.) may
extend through the first panel portion 210 at the bottom edge 232
of the first panel portion 210 and into the slot 320. The first
bolt 330 may be configured to couple the first panel portion 210 to
the second panel portion 212 while also enabling movement between
the first panel portion 210 and the second panel portion 212. That
is, the first bolt 330 may be tight enough to secure the first
panel portion 210 to the second panel portion 212, but loose enough
to enable movement between the two portions 210, 212. A second bolt
332 (e.g., pin, fastener, etc.) may be positioned within the slot
320 along or at the bottom edge 236 of the second panel portion
212. One or more fasteners 308 may be configured to secure the
second panel portion 212 to the side panel 224 while the air hood
assembly 200 is in the deployed configuration. When transitioning
from the deployed configuration to the collapsed configuration, the
fasteners 305, 308 and the side panels 224 may be removed, and the
first bolt 330 and the second bolt 332 may move along the slot 320
towards the first bolt 330 within the slot 320 to guide the second
panel portion 212 in the upward direction 402 along the first axis
500. For example, because the first panel portion 210 remains fixed
relative to the second panel portion 212, the first bolt 330 may
also remain in a fixed position along the bottom edge 232 of the
first panel portion 210. As the second panel portion 212 slides
towards the first panel portion 210 along the first axis 500, the
first bolt 330 may be contained within the slot 320 thereby
limiting movement along a second axis 510. It should be noted that
a similar (e.g., additional) slot 320 may be formed along the
lateral edge 238 of the second panel portion 212 and may be
configured to function similar to the slot 320 described above.
[0070] FIG. 10B is an exploded view of an embodiment of the
coupling between the first panel portion 210 and the second panel
portion 212 via the first bolt 330. As discussed above, the
fastener 305 may be configured to couple the first panel portion
210 to the side panel 224 and may be readily removed to enable the
second panel portion 210 to slide relative to the first panel
portion 210 when the air hood assembly 200 transitions to the
collapsed configuration. As illustrated, the bottom edge 232 of the
first panel portion 210 is positioned above and/or external to the
top edge 235 of the second panel portion 212, and the first bolt
330 may be configured to extend through the bottom edge 232 of the
first panel portion 210 and into the second panel portion 212 via
the slot 320. The first bolt 330 may be retained within the slot
320 by a nut 331 that is configured to secure the coupling between
the first panel portion 210 and the second panel portion 212, as
described above. That is, the nut 331 may be tight enough to couple
the first panel portion 210 to the second panel portion 212 to one
another, but loose enough to enable movement of the second panel
portion 212 relative to the first panel portion 210 along the axis
500. For example, the first bolt 330 may extend through and be
contained within the slot 320 such that as the second panel portion
212 may slide relative to the first panel portion 210, and movement
(e.g., lateral movement) that is not along the axis 500 may be
limited by the first bolt 330 retained within the slot 320. It
should be noted that the lateral edge 238 of the second panel
portion 212 may have a similar slot and fastener configuration as
that discussed above.
[0071] As discussed above, one or more fasteners may be used to
rotatably couple various components of the air hood assembly 200 to
one another. FIG. 11A is a perspective view of an embodiment of the
hinge joint 219 configured to rotatably couple the first filter
frame 214 and the second filter frame 216. As discussed above, the
gap 222 may be formed between the first filter frame 214 and the
second filter frame 216 to provide additional space for the filter
frames 214, 216 to rotate relative to one another. The hinge joint
219 may include a joining plate 600 (e.g., a hinge plate) including
a first hole 601 and a second hole 602. The first filter frame 214
may be rotatably coupled to the joining plate 600 via a first rivet
603 (e.g., pin) extending through the first hole 601 and through
the lateral side 242 of the first filter frame 214. The second
filter frame 216 may be rotatably coupled to the joining plate 600
via a second rivet 604 (e.g., pin) extending through the second
hole 602 and through the lateral side 246 of the second filter
frame 216. By coupling the first filter frame 214 and the second
filter frame 216 to the joining plate 600, the filter frames 214,
216 may rotate relative to each other when the air hood assembly
200 transitions between the deployed configuration and the
collapsed configuration. It should be noted that the lateral side
243 of the first filter frame 214 and the lateral side 247 of the
second filter frame 216 (illustrated in FIG. 6) may be coupled to
one another by a similar hinge joint 219. Further, in some
embodiments, the rivets 603, 604 may be self-tapping fastening
screws, pins, or other suitable element about which the first
filter frame 214 and/or second filter frame 216 may rotate.
[0072] FIG. 11B is a perspective view of an embodiment of the hinge
joint 220 configured to rotatably couple the second filter frame
216 to the first sub-frame 106. The hinge joint 220 may be an
L-shaped bracket (e.g., mounting flange) having a first attaching
member 610 (e.g., first flange) and a second attaching member 612
(e.g., second flange). The first attaching member 610 may be
configured to secure the hinge joint 220 to the first sub-frame 106
of the housing 104 via one or more bolts 620 or other mechanical
fasteners. The one or more bolts 620 may secure the first attaching
member 610 to the first sub-frame 106 such that the hinge joint 220
is fixedly attached to the first sub-frame 106. The second
attaching member 612 may have a hole 614 configured to facilitate
the adjustable coupling between the second filter frame 216 and the
first sub-frame 106. That is, the second filter frame 214 may be
rotatably coupled to the second attaching member 612 via a rivet
615 extending through the hole 614 and through the lateral side 246
of the second filter frame 216. By coupling the second filter frame
216 to the second attaching member 612, the second filter frame 214
is configured to rotate relative to the first sub-frame 106 of the
housing 104, thereby facilitating transition of the air hood
assembly 200 between the deployed configuration and the collapsed
configuration. It should be noted that a similar hinge joint 220
may be included on the lateral side 247 (illustrated in FIG. 6) of
the second filter frame 216, and in some embodiments, the rivet 615
may include a self-tapping fastening screw, pin, or other suitable
element about which the second filter frame 216 may rotate.
[0073] Referring now to FIG. 12, a perspective view of an
embodiment of the air hood assembly 200 in a collapsed
configuration is illustrated. As shown, the side panels 224 are
removed such that the top panel 206 may rotate to rest along the
housing 104 (e.g., in a generally vertical orientation) and to
substantially cover and contain the filter assembly 208 against
and/or within the housing 104 of the HVAC unit 100. As discussed
above, during transition from the deployed configuration to the
collapsed configuration, the second panel portion 212 may slide or
translate relative to the first panel portion 210, such that the
second panel portion 212 may be substantially covered by the first
panel portion 210. Indeed, the first panel portion 210 may sit
generally flush against the housing 104, thereby protecting and
containing the filter assembly 208 within the housing 104. That is,
the first panel portion 210 may overlap and be disposed external to
the second panel portion 212 and the filter assembly 208 contained
within the housing 104. For example, as illustrated, the bottom
edge 232 of the first panel portion 210 is substantially aligned
with the bottom edge 236 of the second panel portion 212, such that
the second panel portion 212 is substantially covered and/or
disposed behind by the first panel portion 210 (e.g., relative to
an external facing surface of the first panel portion 210). That
is, in the collapsed configuration, the first panel portion 210 may
be an outermost layer of the air hood assembly 200 relative to the
housing 104, and the second panel portion 212 may be positioned
internal to the first panel portion 210 relative to the housing
104. Such a configuration enables the top panel 206 to cover and
protect the filter assembly 208 within the housing 104 and further
aids in installation of the air hood assembly 200. More
specifically, the filters 215, 217 and the air hood assembly 200
may be installed with the HVAC unit 100 prior to transportation of
the HVAC unit 100 (e.g., to an installation site), and the HVAC
unit 100 may then be transported (e.g., shipped) without removing
the filters 215, 217 and the air hood assembly 200 because the
filter assembly 208 is substantially covered and protected by the
top panel 206. Additionally, in the collapsed configuration, the
air hood assembly 200 does not significantly and/or materially
increase a footprint of the HVAC unit 100, thereby reducing
delivery, transportation, and installation costs associated with
the HVAC unit 100.
[0074] FIG. 13 is a schematic view of an embodiment of the filter
assembly 208 with the first filter frame 214 and the second filter
frame 216 arranged in the extended position (e.g., end-to-end,
adjacent one another) and with the filters 215, 217 installed. As
discussed above, the first filter frame 214 and the second filter
frame 216 may be separated by the gap 222 and may be coupled
together via the hinge joints 219. The filters 215, 217 may be
retained within the first and second filter frames 214, 216 by the
mesh 218. The gap 222 may be formed in the deployed configuration
as a result of the spatial relationship of the first filter frame
214 relative to the second filter frame 216 (e.g., via the hinge
joints 219), and the spatial relationship may facilitate transition
of the air hood assembly 200 from the deployed configuration to the
collapsed configuration and vice versa. Further, each of the sides
240, 241, 242, 243, 244, 234, 246, and 247 of the filter frames
214, 216 may include or be formed from C-channels configured to
facilitate installation of the filters 215, 217 therein. For
example, when the filters 215, 217 are installed, a first gap 700
may be formed between a top edge 800 of the filter 215 and the top
side 240 of the first filter frame 214, and a second gap 702 may be
formed between a bottom edge 801 of the filter 215 and the bottom
side 241 of the first filter frame 214. Further, a third gap 704
may be formed between a first lateral edge 802 of the filter 215
and the lateral side 242 of the first filter frame 214, and a
fourth gap 706 may be formed between a second lateral edge 803 of
the filter 215 and the lateral side 243 of the first filter frame
214. Similarly, a first gap 710 may be formed between a top edge
804 of the filter 217 and the top side 244 of the second filter
frame, and a second gap 712 may be formed between a bottom edge 805
of the filter 217 and the bottom side 245 of the second filter
frame 216. Further, a third gap 714 may be formed between a first
lateral edge 806 of the filter 217 and the lateral side 246 of the
second filter frame 216, and a fourth gap 716 may be formed between
a second lateral edge 807 of the filter 217 and the lateral side
247 of the second filter frame 216. Each of the gaps 700, 702, 704,
706, 710, 712, 714, 716 may be configured to enable the filters
215, 217 to move relative to the first and second filter frames
214, 216 and may provide adequate clearance for the filters 215,
217 to be readily removed or installed as need. For example, to
remove the filter 215, the top edge 800 of the filter 215 may be
transitioned into the gap 700 towards the top side 240 of the first
filter frame 214 such that the bottom edge 801 of the filter 215
may no longer constrained or held by the bottom side 241 of the
first filter frame 214, thereby enabling the removal of the filter
215 from the first filter frame 214. Similarly, to remove the
filter 217, the top edge 804 of the filter 217 may be transitioned
into the gap 710 towards the top side 244 of the second filter
frame 216 such that the bottom edge 805 of the filter 217 may no
longer constrained or held by the bottom side 245 of the second
filter frame 216. It should be noted that any of the gaps 700, 702,
704, 706, 710, 712, 714, 716 may provide clearance for the filters
215, 217 to be removed from the filter frames 214, 216, and that
the removal of filters is not limited to the method described
above. That is, in some embodiments, the filters 215, 217 may be
transitioned into the gaps 702, 712 towards the bottom sides 241,
245 of the first and second filter frames 214, 216 such that the
top edges 800, 804 of the filters 215, 217 are no longer held or
constrained by the top sides 240, 244 of the first and second
filter frames 214, 216. In other embodiments, the filters 215, 217
may be moved into the gaps 704, 706, 714, 716 towards the lateral
sides 242, 243, 246, 247 of the first and second filter frames 214,
216 in a similar fashion such that the filters 215, 217 are no
longer constrained by one or more surfaces of the first and second
filter frames 214, 216. As noted above, each filter 215, 217 may
include one or more individual filters (e.g., a plurality of
filters) that each may be individually removed via movement into
one of the gaps as described above.
[0075] Providing a collapsible air hood assembly capable of
transitioning between a deployed configuration and a collapsed
configuration, in accordance with the present disclosure, can
reduce the size (e.g., footprint) of the HVAC unit and protect
components within the air hood assembly (e.g., filters) during
transportation, thereby reducing time and transportation costs
associated with the delivery of the HVAC units. Further, by
configuring the air hood assembly as described above, the air hood
assembly may provide protection to certain components of the HVAC
system that would otherwise need to be removed and reinstalled upon
delivery of the HVAC unit, and additional time and costs associated
with assembly of the HVAC unit may be reduced.
[0076] The techniques presented and claimed herein are referenced
and applied to material objects and concrete examples of a
practical nature that demonstrably improve the present technical
field and, as such, are not abstract, intangible or purely
theoretical. Further, if any claims appended to the end of this
specification contain one or more elements designated as "means for
[perform]ing [a function] . . . " or "step for [perform]ing [a
function] . . . ", it is intended that such elements are to be
interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f). However, for any claims
containing elements designated in any other manner, it is intended
that such elements are not to be interpreted under 35 U.S.C.
112(f).
[0077] While only certain features and embodiments of the
disclosure have been illustrated and described, many modifications
and changes may occur to those skilled in the art, such as
variations in sizes, dimensions, structures, shapes and proportions
of the various elements, values of parameters, including
temperatures and pressures, mounting arrangements, use of
materials, colors, orientations, and so forth without materially
departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the subject
matter recited in the claims. The order or sequence of any process
or method steps may be varied or re-sequenced according to
alternative embodiments. It is, therefore, to be understood that
the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications
and changes as fall within the true spirit of the disclosure.
Furthermore, in an effort to provide a concise description of the
exemplary embodiments, all features of an actual implementation may
not have been described, such as those unrelated to the presently
contemplated best mode of carrying out the disclosure, or those
unrelated to enabling the claimed disclosure. It should be noted
that in the development of any such actual implementation, as in
any engineering or design project, numerous implementation specific
decisions may be made. Such a development effort might be complex
and time consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking
of design, fabrication, and manufacture for those of ordinary skill
having the benefit of this disclosure, without undue
experimentation.
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